PITTSBURGH — The window for saving the Devils’ season is rapidly closing and no one understands that better than general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Although the GM is in West Palm Beach, Fla., through Tuesday for the NHL board of governors’ meetings, expectations around the team are that changes will be made over the next few days.

Whether that means the dismissal of rookie head coach John MacLean or a trade, Lamoriello is almost certain to do something after Monday night’s 2-1 loss to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center.

It was the team’s third straight loss and seventh in the last 10 games. Captain Jamie Langenbrunner said players should be worried about the consequences.

“I would hope so. I think we all know Lou well enough that something is going to happen,” Langen-brunner said. “Deservedly so.”

He did not mean the firing of MacLean.

“Not at all. That’s the furthest thing from it,” Langenbrunner stressed. “I would hope that he’s not. That doesn’t deserve to happen. It should be one of us.”

MacLean was asked what Lamoriello’s mood has been like.

“He’s been supportive,” he answered. “As a team we have to get through it.”

Although they battled once again last night, it was very evident how far the Devils have fallen behind the Eastern Conference’s elite teams. Crosby set up the tying goal for the Penguins and then scored the deciding goal on a sequence that illustrated how dominating he can be.

“It’s like he knows what’s going to happen. He hides away in the zone and we don’t even see him. All of a sudden he has the puck on his stick and it’s in the net,” Devils goalie Johan Hedberg (32 saves) said. “It’s not for nothing he’s leading the scoring race. He’s extremely good.”

Pittsburgh’s biggest star produced. The Devils’ did not.

Ilya Kovalchuk had an opportunity for a shot as the second period passed the midway point. Instead, he looked to make a pass to defenseman Andy Greene and the Pens broke up ice to score.

“I’d like to see (Kovalchuk) generate a few more shots there,” MacLean said. “It didn’t work out and they capitalized down the other end.”

Kovalchuk said: “We should put the puck more on the net. On that second goal, if I shoot it maybe there is a chance for us. But I turn it over and they score. I thought Greenie was open so I tried (to pass), but everybody was already at the end of a shift.”

It was a cross-ice pass from Crosby that set up a Chris Kunitz one-timer from well above the right hash marks and erased a 1-0 Devils lead at 15:41 of the first.

“That first goal was an amazing play by (Crosby) picking up that pass,” Langenbrunner said. “Not too many guys pick up that pass and make the play he did.”

Brian Rolston, who scored the lone Devils goal, would not speculate on what Lamoriello might do.

“Our job is to win hockey games,” Rolston said. “My job is not to comment on those things.”

They must start winning immediately or write off this season.

“Yeah. We have to do something,” Kovalchuk said. “It’s (the season) going to be done real soon. We have to wake up and start playing the way we can.”